Brazilian Natura &Co announced that it is acquiring Avon Products, Inc. in an all-share transaction, creating the fourth-largest pure-play beauty group in the world and a major force for good in the industry.The combination creates a best-in-class multi-brand and multi-channel beauty group, with direct connections to consumers on a daily basis. The group will hold leading positions in relationship selling through Avon´s and Natura's over 6.3 million Consultants and Representatives, a global footprint through 3,200 stores, as well as an expanded digital presence across all companies. The combined Group is expected to have annual gross revenues of over US$10 billion, over 40,000 associates and be present in 100 countries. The expanded group will bring beauty to over 200 million consumers across the world, anytime, anywhere, every day. By adding Avon to a portfolio that already includes Natura, The Body Shop and Aesop, Natura &Co will enhance its ability to better serve its different consumer profiles and distribution channels and expand into new geographies. As part of this transaction, a new Brazilian holding company, Natura Holding S.A., has been created. Upon closing, the Board of Directors of the combined company will consist of 13 members, 3 of which will be designated by Avon. Closing is expected in early 2020.

Disney is about to kicked off a review of its entire global media planning and buying business, Adweek reports. The pitch, expected to kick off in the fall, will involve a series of incumbent agencies from four major holding companies, as well as independent network Horizon Media for the entirety of Disneys portfolio. Disney recently selected OMD Entertainment to handle U.S. media for 20th Century Fox. Disney spent around US$1 billion on measured marketing globally in 2018.